The Parish Clergy

Fr James Mather at Candlemas, 2nd February 2016

Fr James Mather sscRector

Fr James is a proud East Anglian, of Northumbrian and Leicestershire extraction. He was born and spent his early years in rural Essex, before the family relocated to Suffolk when he was aged 8, remaining there for his schooling (albeit with a number of house moves), until he went off to university.

After reading for a degree in Ancient History and Classical Civilisation at the University of Sheffield (1983-86), he worked in the City of London for a leading firm of Lloyd's Reinsurance Brokers, R.K. Carvill (1986-88), whilst considering his call.

Having received his theological formation at St Stephen's House, Oxford (1988-91), Fr James was ordained by the Rt Rev'd David Lunn, the Bishop of Sheffield (deacon 1991; priest 1992), and served two curacies in the Diocese of Sheffield, at SS Leonard & Jude, Scawsby and St Wilfrid, Cantley (both in Doncaster) before being appointed as Vicar of Lakenheath, north-west Suffolk, in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich (1995-2001).

In 2001, he took up his present appointment as Rector of Downham Market & Crimplesham with Stradsett, in W Norfolk and the Diocese of Ely. He has served additionally as a member of the Diocesan Synod (2003-8) and the Diocesan Board of Education & Training (2003-6), and as Rural Dean of the Fincham & Feltwell Deanery (2005-8).

Fr Alan Davies was ordained Deacon on 3rd July 2010 and Priest on 3rd July 2011.

He is a Self-Supporting Minister, SSM (formerly known as a Non-Stipendiary Minister, NSM), which meant combining ministerial duties with his job as a painter and decorator, until he retired from that in 2015.

Fr. Alan served firstly as Assistant Curate from 2010 until 2014, when he was Licensed as Associate Priest of the Benefice.

He is a 'homegrown' ordination candidate, having been associated with St Edmund's for a number of years, during which time he contributed an enormous amount to the life of the Church in lay ministry, together with his late wife Julie.

Before Ordination, he served for 10 years as a Churchwarden, and was Licenced as a Lay Reader in 2006 before starting his formation for the Priesthood a year later on the regional Ministerial Training Course.

Fr Alan Davies with Churchwardens Pat Barton and Tricia Potter at his Ordination to the Priesthood, 3rd July 2011